Patrick Battiston, The Excellent

One of the greatest defenders of French football, champion of France in 1988 with AS Monaco FC. Patrick Battiston is he part of your Dream Team?

His name will be forever linked to that cruel World Cup semi-final loss to West Germany in 1982 when he was assaulted by the German goalkeeper, Harald Schumacher, but Patrick Battiston's immense career was a whole lot more. Five-time French champion with Saint-Etienne (1981), Bordeaux (1984, 1985 and 1987) and AS Monaco FC (1988), he also played in three World Cups (1978, 1982 and 1986), including two semi-finals, and also won Euro 1984 in France. He earned 56 caps for Les Bleus.

He only spent two seasons with AS Monaco FC, from 1987 to 1989, but won the league in his first season under Arsène Wenger. A complete defender, he also knew how to pass and even score (45 club goals and 3 with Les Bleus), he played 734 matches in his career, including 558 in Ligue 1. Patrick Battiston was, quite simply, the best defender of his generation. He began his career in 1973 with Metz, and retired in 1991 at Bordeaux, where he remains a member of the coaching staff.

For this position, were have decided to split the vote into two parts. The first vote is for the emblematic central defenders to have played for the ASM before 1990. You can vote in this category now, until March 30. The second vote will be for the best central defenders to have represented the club since 1990.